RATHIN BARMAN b. 1981, lives and works in Kolkata

Over the last few years, Rathin has been interested in interventions in different urban spaces. These spaces are mostly physical, defining the fabric of a particular city. Through these interventions, he tries to highlight a subtle sense of wry helplessness that is born from its location between reality and illusion. He does this through his sculptures, drawings, and placements of other objects that he makes or collects, attempting to redefine modern spaces, both visually and conceptually.

To him, the city is a political phenomenon, reflecting many ideologies and different socio-political points of view. Constantly transforming cityscape, driven by economic and social changes, has led him to research architecture, the urban sprawl, development, and human behavior, situated within this milieu.

Barman’s solo shows include: No...I Remember It Well (2015), Experimenter, Kolkata; A Goldfish Bowl, Gallery SKE (2014), Bangalore; And My Eyes Fill with Sand… Experimenter (2011), Kolkata and his solo projects include: Landscape from Memory (Situation 1) curated by Diana Campbell Betancourt, Dhaka Art Summit 2014; Untitled curated by Tom Eccles, Frieze New York Sculpture Park 2012; Untitled curated by Nick Capasso, DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Massachusetts, USA.

He is part ofRendez-vous/13 Biennale de Lyon at IAC- Institut de'Art Contemporain in Lyon, France; Vancouver Biennale Residency 2015 in Squamish, Vancouver B C, Canada. participated in public art project Edge Effect curated by Kanchi Mehta, a Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014 collateral project at Fort Kochi Beach Front. His group exhibitions include: Midnight’s Grandchildren curated by Girish Shahane, Studio X (2014), Mumbai; Land of No Horizon, Nature Morte (2014), New Delhi; WhyNotPlace Residency show, Religare Art Initiative (2011), New Delhi; 53rd National Exhibition of Art, Lalit Kala Akademi (2011). Barman exhibited in Art Dubai (2013) and India Art Fair (2012 to 2014). He had participated in Sandarbh Artists’ residency (2011) and Religare International Artists’ Residency (2011).

Rathin’s work is in the collections of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Devi Art Foundation, New Delhi; Coimbatore Center for Contemporary Art (CoCCA), Coimbatore among other important collections.